Lagos refunds N209m to LASU students

c he Lagos State government began yesterday the reimbursement of N209 million to the students of the State University (LASU), in the aftermath of the reversal of school fees by the government

The amount is part of the fee paid by the students before the reversal of the tuition fee to N25,000 by Governor Babatunde Fashola last year.

Presenting cheques to some of the beneficiaries at the LASU Main Auditorium, Ojo, Lagos, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Fatai Olukoga said the N209 million is the first tranche of refund.

No fewer than 900 Direct Entry students in their 100 and 200 levels were the first beneficiaries of the N209million, while the other set of students are expected to be captured in the second tranche.

Olukoga, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the money released was N209, 874million and the balance would be released later.

According to him, when the government reversed the fees, many people dubbed it political.

“We are also not unaware of the moves by stakeholders to frustrate our efforts at ensuring the quality of LASU programmes. Notwithstanding the frustration, we are relentlessly committed to making LASU a world class university of our time.

“Information at our disposal reveals that initial computation of excess money to be refunded to 100 Level and 200 Level Direct Entry students for 2013/14 academic session stood at N209.874 million.

“However, following the release of the fund, the university management later reported a shortfall in computed excess money to be refunded, particularly to those in 200 Level-400 Level. The shortfall would be released after the reconciliation is over.”

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa, said 5,031 students are expected to be refunded at the end of the first and second tranche, affirming that in the first tranche, N209, 874 million was released for disbursement.

He said the school is still expecting N89 million to be released by the government, which would come under the second tranche.